Interpretation to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee Opinion No. 760: dysmenorrhea and endometriosis in the adolescent

Dysmenorrhea is the most common menstrual symptom among adolescent girls and young women. Most adolescents experiencing dysmenorrhea have primary dysmenorrhea. When the patient’s history suggests primary dysmenorrhea and will respond well to empiric treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or hormonal suppression, or both. When a patient does not experience clinical improvement for her dysmenorrhea with therapy, secondary causes and treatment adherence should be investigated. Endometriosis is the leading cause of secondary dysmenorrhea in asdolescents. Endometriosis in adolescents is considered a chronic disease with potential for progression if left untreated. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to delay in accessing diagnosis and treatment. The goals of therapy include symptom relief, suppression of disease progression, and protection of future fertility. Therapy must be individualized, and long-term patient and familial education and support are also important.This paper interpretated the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee Opinion: dysmenorrhea and endometriosis in the adolescent. Key words: Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Adolescent